Responding to community needs and inquiries, Penguin Random House formally stated on Tuesday that it is “permitting teachers, librarians and booksellers to create and share story time and read-aloud videos and live events,” according to publicly posted guidelines.
Teachers and educators providing distance learning in a virtual classroom setting can conduct story time or read-aloud videos with PRH books through closed educational platforms (such as Google Classroom, Schoology, Edmodo and Discovery Education.) Videos posted to YouTube must be designated as “unlisted” when uploading, and then can be linked to from within a closed educational platform.
The permission lasts until the end of the school year, at which point the publisher asks that the videos be removed, unless permission is extended for another semester.
For live readings that are streamed through social media, the publisher asks that educators delete the default recorded live video after the session has concluded. Educators, librarians and booksellers are asked to notify the publisher via email when posting or stream a story time or read-aloud video or live event, according to posted requirements.